. >> were you correct or incorrect when you said that the surge would be the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since vietnam? >> well, i'm not going to give you a yes or no. i think it's far more complicated than that. >> reporter: hagel's record as a senator caused frequent concern. in 20 on 1, he voted against sanctions against iran. >> do you support sanctioning against iran? >> yes. hagel -- >> i'm fully committed to the president's goal from preventing iran from a sneak lard weapon. >> reporter: he previously co-authored a report calling for cuts. >> a strong agile, safe secure effective nuclear arsenal for the united states is not debatable. >> reporter: hagel promised to support the rights of gales in the military. he also apologized for offensive comments he made accusing lobbyists for israel of intimidating lawmakers. asefense secretary, he worked closely with the strong u.s. ally as it faces threats in the middle east. >> you said the jewish locky -- that term shouldn't have been used, it should have another term. name one person in your pen who is intimidated